Alessa regarded the girl calmly. "I am a demon, Sasami. We are not regarded as good things on the ship, and my presence is something she believed caused her death. While she is not completely wrong in this, she neglects to recall I was not the one that killed her, or even responsible for forcing the town to act like animals: they did that themselves. What worries people about me is that I am an entity of evil, it is what I was created for. I understand their concerns, but I am also just as aware that their feelings toward me has a base in evil too. In the end, humans are humans, acting as they see fit to justify their fears and anxieties."

She smiled. "But don't underestimate me either, Sasami. I am a very strong demon, and I have already made my home in the City. They would not do anything to me without a fight."

She thought a moment. "May I see the artifact that gave you your power?"